Oscar Winner Jessie Buckley to Earn Modest Wage in West End Play
The acclaimed actress will be paid a standard theater rate for her role in 'Afterbirth,' a stark contrast to her reported Hollywood earnings.
Oscar-winning actress Jessie Buckley, known for commanding fees up to £4.5 million per film, is set to receive a significantly more modest payment for her upcoming West End role. Buckley, 36, who won Best Actress for the film 'Hamnet,' will star in the new play 'Afterbirth' at the Royal Court Theatre. She will be paid the same 'company rate' as other cast members, adhering to West End union agreements, confirmed David Byrne, the Royal Court's artistic director. Buckley will participate in eight performances weekly during the limited engagement and will earn £971, according to The Times. This pay structure highlights the Royal Court's appeal to prominent actors, Byrne suggested, noting its status as a 'tantalising proposition' for talent seeking to engage with original work. Since Byrne's appointment in 2024, other notable actors like John Lithgow, Tilda Swinton, and Gary Oldman have received the same remuneration at the 400-seat venue.
The play 'Afterbirth,' written by Nina Segal and directed by Maria Aberg, is described as a 'funny, furious and unflinching' exploration of life after childbirth and parenthood. Its world premiere is scheduled for January 15, 2028, with performances running until February 26 of that year.
The Royal Court Theatre's upcoming season also features 'The Apology,' a world premiere starring Emmy winner Tobias Menzies. This production, running from March 19 to April 24, delves into themes of sexual violence and atonement as V confronts her abusive father. Additionally, the theatre will host the European premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's award-winning drama 'Purpose,' which examines a prominent African-American political family whose reputation erodes due to long-buried secrets. This play runs from January 16 to February 27.
Other productions in the season include 'The Briar Patch,' a domestic thriller led by Olivier Award-winning actress Juliet Stevenson, and 'War Face,' a new play developed with British Army veterans. Benjamin Kuffour's 'Working Men,' exploring the lives of construction professionals, and Alex Medland's debut 'We're Gonna Kill Billy,' an eco-thriller about teenagers confronting a marina development, will also be staged.
Beyond its main program, the Royal Court will host its fourth edition of a week-long open submission festival for emerging writers and its third annual Young Playwrights Award festival, showcasing work by writers aged 13 to 18.